Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-04-09
CITY AND DISTRICT.
TO HAVE A NEW CHURCH.
The Contemplated Removal of the
Ninfh-street N. r. Congregation.

The Contemplated Removal of the
Ninfh-street III. 4. Congregation.
HrsroRY OF PROSPEROUS CHURCH ORGANIZATION
THE OLD TABERNACLE on TWELFTH sTREET-sIy-
IsrsGs WHO HAVE PREACHED AT NINTH STREET.
ETC.
II is more than probable that within a few
months the Sth-street Methodist Protestant con-
gregation. now known as the Central " p church.
wiz vacate their edIfce on 9Th street. between
and streets and occupy a new structure on the
site recently purchased at the northwest corner of
18th and NJ streets, known as the Middleton prop
erty. The 9th-ssreet property, it is understood,
VIII bring quite large price-over 100000. Offers
have been made to lease the property at what a
few years ago would have been regarded as a fabu-
lo1S sum it is probable that the congregation
VIII sell or lease The property
THE ORIGIN OF THE CHURCH
The original members OF this congregation
formed a class composed OF JAS A. Kennedy,
Enoch White, w. W. Billing, A. J. Boss, owen
summers, and I. s. W. Boyd, who were received as
members or the Georgetown NJ. p. Church, April
lsSa, and Rev. W. c. LipscOmb was the leader.
subsequently Mrs Charlotte A. Boyd joined the
class, which met at different houses On July 81,
1882, a meeting was held OF the members residing
Ia W aShingtOn at which besides the male mem-
bers OF the class named above the following were
present: Isaac Bartlett, Ulysses Ward, JAS Sloan
JOS Collins, q. n. McCIelland, and Willard Drake
Col Billing presided, and Mr.. Kennedy was the
-
worship was discussed, and an effort was made to
buy the Fourth Presbyterian church property.
On August II was decided 10 build at once and
MesSrs. Kennedy. Billing and Ward were ap
pointed a committee.
THE FIRST CHURCH STRUCTURE.
A lot was secured on the west side Of 10Th
street, between G and streets, on which was
erected modest frame structure, 21x49 feet. The
lot was donated by Gen. John P. Van Ness. At
that time there were but half dozen houses on
the square, which was crossed by stream from
the. spring in Franklin square Much OF the
square was used as dump ground. This UMPIRE
tentious house OF worship was known as the
Tabernacle. 1t was dedicated December u 1882,
Rev Levi Il. Reese preaching In the morning. and
Rev. r. Stier at night Revs. W. e. LipScomb and
Josiah Warden filled the pulpit TIL April following,
when Rev. VIM. Kelsey was appointed by the
conference He was followed in 1894 by Rev. d. E.
Reese. The general conference, which met this
year In Georgetown, recommended the building Of
more comnodious house, and recommended that
the conferences assist Rev. Josiah Warden was
appointed the pastor in April. 1885, and the same
committee that erected the tabernacle was APP
pointed to build on the present Site on 9th street.
MOVING TO NINTH STREET.
The result Was the erection OF brick structure
q the then conventional Methodist type, with
yalleries on three sides. This church dedi-
stated July 10. 1885. The building cost between
5000 and 5000, and after the proceeds OF the
sale OF the 12Jh-street church were applied,
balance Of s.. 500 remained. To wipe this out
one OF the members moTtgaged his dwelling. The
conference met here in 1896 and sent 10 the charge
Rev. L. Z Reese, who was elected chaplain to Con-
gresS In 1858 the conference left the charge
without an appointment, but Rev. F. Stier was
sent here and remained ABOUT six months Revs.
Inward and VIM Lamphier filling out the balance
Of the year. Rev. DR.. Webster nlled the appoint
ment In 1889, serving two years, and Rev A. A.
upScomb followed in 1S41 and 1Sf2, but Was trans
fexred TO Montgomery, Ala- in October leaving
the pulpit vacant TIL Rev. 5. b. Sutherland was
sent 10 I'LL out the year. Mr. Sutherland was reap
pointed in 1913 The conference left the church
supplied In 1874, but ReyS U. Ward and JOS P.Moore
filled the pulpit. In 1874 Rev. H. d. Moore, of Phla-
ipln hrrrf affo and arr
some time Rev. VIM. Matchett was transferred
from HarperS Ferry, and nlled cut the balance OF
the year. In 1916 the conference met here, but
left the charge-without pastor. Rev. s. X. Cox
was subsequently sent, and under his passionate
the church was repaired, painted. &C, and at the
end Of the year he Was transferred 10 Charleston,
s. C. Rey. L r. Reese second time sent, In
1S47, and remained two years. From March,
ls49, to 1880 Rev. VIM. Collier was the pastor,
but In the latter year he was elected president OF
the conference, and Rev. ". I. Eva was appointed
70 succeed him here, and served till May, 1852.
when he withdrew and united with the Presbyte-
nan Church. Up 10 March, 1853, the pulpit was
diled by various ministers, when Rev. ID. E Reese
was appointed and served two years. In 1850 the
conference sat at oXandrta, and Rev. Peter Light
Wilson was appointed and served two years, the
church, under him prospering spiritually and
financially. In 1857 Pew. f. SwentZeu was APP
pointed and served two years During his first
year the building ives again repaired and reno
waited the walls rrescoed, &c. In 1859 the confer
ence sat In Georgetown, and appointed Rev. l. W.
Bates who served one year, and Rev. p. L.
Wilson was again appointed and served two years.
ton was compelled 10 pay $500 TO 300 for Street
Improvements and a new entrance TO the edidce.
In 1862 Rev. Washington RObey was appointed,
but after service OF three months he died OF ty-
phOd feve., and Rev. w. ". Strayer filed out the
remainder OF the term In 1868 Rev. G. T. Cochel
Was appointed, and Rev. DR.. J. T.. Ward, who was
raised and sent from 9th street, came the follow
ing year, remaining two years, and Rev. D. E.
Reese, who had served two years I'D TO March,
lSS6, was returned and served two years more
In 1865 Rev. E. j. DrfnkhouSe was stationed here
and remained TIL 1874 He has since edited the
church paper, the Methodist Protestant OF Balti-
more From October OF that year Rev. W. s. Ham,
mOnd Mled out the remainder Of the year and was
returned In 1875. Strong efforts were made in
1896 10 retain him another year but without
avail
THE PRESENT STRUCTURE.
Bev. David Wilson, now a chaplain In the @. 8.
Amy was appointed in 1877. 1t was during his
mintstfat1onS that the edifice was RACED and the
present building erected. Shortly after the rise
o the conference, in 1880 DR.. Wilson received his
appointment In the Army and left for the West
Rev. p. t. Hall was appointed to serve the remain
der OF the year, and was returned In 1881. In
fSs2 Rev. J. T. Lasselle was appointed, and served
one year, and In 1888 Rev. J. l. Mills was appOin-
eod and still is the pastor. The present structure
quite handsome one but Is being hemmed
closely In By business establishments
ThR NeVG Plnmbiny EI4rulaf;ona